Want a personal shopper? You don't have to be rich

NEW YORK — Ah, to live the life of the wealthy, and to be able to afford your own personal shopper.

ANNE D'INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK — Ah, to live the life of the wealthy, and to be able to afford your own personal shopper.

Well, you don't need to be rich to get a taste of that kind of service.

A new breed of online sites is tailoring boxes of items to shoppers' tastes. And at traditional retailers including J. Crew and Macy's, the services of personal stylists don't cost any extra.

The online sites include Trunk Club, which caters to men, and Stitch Fix, which targets women.

They offer personal stylists who ship you a box of items selected for your tastes. You keep and pay for what you want, and return the rest, sometimes with a minimum charge that is applied to your eventual order. You pay that charge regardless of whether you like the clothes or not.

The items aren't cheap but are relatively affordable — for Stitch Fix, which sends you five items in each box, the average price for an item is $55.

For a bigger splurge, online retailer J. Hilburn offers men's custom shirts, cashmere sweaters, jackets and pants and provides free access to your own personal stylist who can visit your home or office. Custom shirt are priced at $89, while made-to-measure trousers start at $195. But the price is one-third what similar items can cost elsehwere.

At traditional retailers like J. Crew, Macy's and Bloomingdale's, personal shopping services have long been free.

The typical visit at Bloomingdale's is two hours, according to Marian Goodman, vice president of personal shopping, and most stores have dedicated areas for the service. Bloomingdale's, whose dresses start at $70 and average between $300 and $600, says it's mindful of shoppers' budgets.

Still, some traditional stores are trying to take the bite out of asking for help. Two years ago, J. Crew relaunched its personal shopping program, renaming it the Very Personal Stylist.

The service is available at all stores, with the emphasis on accommodation, whether it's body type, budget or time. J.Crew also can open the store early or stay late to work around your schedule. You can also call 800-261-7422, if you just want talk on the phone.

The new approach is helping to democratize such service, said Michael Londrigan, dean of academic affairs at LIM College, a fashion college in New York City.

The latest technology used by some of the online sites makes recommendations based on information you provide, and your shopping history. But the personal shopper ultimately makes the final cut and personally selects the items in the box. That's helping online sellers compete with the face-to-face interaction offered by stores.

"It's giving consumers a lot more opportunities to use personal stylists that they didn't have in the past — in a more comfortable atmosphere," Londrigan said.